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Old injury new pain: Supplements, Phisiotherapy, advice?

Posted , 3 users are following.

MrHoppy88
MrHoppy88

Hi guys

I injured my left knee 12 years ago thanks to a bad rugby tackle; tearing the tendons and grinding down some of the cartilage (if I remember right). Small, short-term, infrequent pains have occured over the years but nothing that has stopped my playing football and rugby when I was younger (now 26), nor has it really been a concern. For the past 3 years I haven't found time to do sports regularly; my work means I travel a lot but it also keeps me fairly active probably 1/3 of the time (diving of moving boats, swimming, tonnes of walking etc), when I'm not sat behind a desk.

Diet-wise I eat fairly healthily; as healthy as is possible while working in SE Asia, without sacrificing actually liking the food I eat. Additionally I have absolutely no other health problems and have been for a full medical in April this year.

However over the past 2 weeks I'm feeling not just my 'bad' knee all the time but my right knee also, either they ache, or hurt when I walk or I get a short sharp pain in the 'bad' one when I go to sit down.

I am 6ft 5" and accept that taller people commonly have knee problems but I'm wondering how I might be able to improve the health of my knees to the point where I don't have to think about them if I want to play football or my girlfriend asks me try yoga again (collapsed last time; knee pain when squatting).

Does anyone have any advice on supplements I should maybe take, exercises I can do or anything else that may improve the situation?

Thanks in advance,

James

0 likes, 8 replies

8 Replies

  • MrHoppy88
    MrHoppy88

    Posted

    *my = me

    **of = off

  • Butterbean
    Butterbean MrHoppy88

    Posted

    glucosamine and chondroitin supplement is supposed to help restore cartilage and is used to help patients with "wear and tear" or Osteoarthritis in their joints which may be your problem (or might not I'm just giving my best guess) 

    Some patients find it helpful so it may be worth a go. 

    • MrHoppy88
      MrHoppy88 Butterbean

      Posted

      Thanks Butterbean

      I took glucoseamine a long time ago then stopped since supplements are quite expensive here.

      I've tracked down some decent ones and I'll get back on them again smile

  • Soobeedoo
    Soobeedoo MrHoppy88

    Posted

    You could try apple cider vinegar. Have a look on the internet at its benefits . It breaks down congestion in joints. You take 2 tablespoons in water. I always have an orange or banana close by as it's very sharp . 

    Hope it helps but I would go and get it checked sounds like cartiledge or ligament trouble

    • MrHoppy88
      MrHoppy88 Soobeedoo

      Posted

      Ooo interesting, I'll give it a try, thanks for the banana tip too, I clean with the stuff usually so I know its potency hahaha

      The issue was having to wait 6 weeks for keyhole surgery back then, by which time it had 'sorted itself out'. I'm on the cusp of getting it checked out this time round, the only stumbling block is if my insurance covers check ups. Unfortunately no NHS style health care here. Last time it cost me £75 to get one stitch in my face, so scans and regular check ups could sink me if my insurance only covers accidents and surgery etc. I should be back in the UK in 6 months so might stick to the supplements and vinegar until then and see how it goes.

      Thanks for the input smile

  • paul57039
    paul57039 MrHoppy88

    Posted

    Hi Hoppy,

    I have had three knee athroscopies and one total knee replacement after looking inside in the last Arthroscopy he said there was nothing more he could do except replace it. However I took glucosamine tablets along with a prescribed anti inflamatory tablet for five years for pain in both knees prior to the replacement and went without the anti inflamatory and the glucosamine tablets 1 week before and since the op ( 8 weeks) and noticed no pain in the unreplaced knee. I now think glucosamine is a bit of help but in serious cases only nominal. Also when I was waiting for the knee replacement the 'good' knee started to ache because I had started to make that work harder, always use that one to do the lift on steps and use that one first to go down steps, and lots of other actions I think you end up doing this automatically. I am wondering if this was what you have done to your good leg. Local pain in a knee at a particular bend angle usually indicates damage to the internals possibly the meniscus, this is usally accompanied by external swelling, if it is damaged very rarely does it heal itself and an arthroscope clean up is required. But the answer is to see a doctor, possibly have an X-Ray or MRI and get a professional opinion. Hope thet helps,

    Regards Paul

    • MrHoppy88
      MrHoppy88 paul57039

      Posted

      Thanks Paul.

      Yeah Dr seem like a good Idea.

      The advice I was given 12 years ago was, it will be fine.

      Ill look into what my insurance covers.

      Its not the worst pain in the world...yet, but its become noticable now, although it hasn't swollen up for about 4 years, however it's 32 degrees (C) here everyday so I imagine that helps.

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